CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – So much for that whole dress rehearsal thing.
Deshaun Watson and 29 other key Browns sat out Saturday’s preseason finale in Seattle that the Seahawks won 37-33 as head coach Kevin Stefanski wanted to avoid putting them at risk.
Here’s the top Brownie Bites from a late night in Seattle.
Quick hook – Jameis Winston played the first two offensive series and completed 6 of 9 passes for 63 yards. Winston overthrew Jamari Thrash on fourth-and-2 in the corner of the end zone thwarting the scoring threat on his second drive.
DTR development – Dorian Thompson-Robinson relieved Winston and provided the highlight of the preseason when Thompson-Robinson hit Thrash for a wide open 46-yard touchdown to cut Seattle’s lead to 14-10 in the second quarter. Thompson-Robinson finished the night 11 of 20 for 115 yards and the score. After watching Thompson-Robinson during camp and preseason, Browns executive vice president of football operations and general manager Andrew Berry would be wise to hang on to the sophomore QB, for a variety of reasons, including insurance for future seasons. Tyler Huntley put on a good show in the second half throwing for three touchdowns and 146 yards while completing 17 of 22 passes.
Out of the Woods? – Receiver Michael Woods II caught a pair of touchdowns in the second half from Huntley, but will that be enough to make the team? Woods is competing with David Bell and Thrash for one of the precious final roster spots in that room. All three receivers were drafted by Berry in recent years and whoever ends up being the odd man out likey ends up on the practice squad.
Help on the way – Prior to the game Berry hinted on the Browns television pregame show that aired on WEWS that within the next two weeks the offensive line should be healthy for the opener against Dallas, meaning Jedrick Wills Jr. and or Jack Conklin will be available. Germain Ifedi started at left tackle Saturday night and Winston did not have much time on a few snaps to read the field validating Stefanski's decision to sit Watson.
Healthy Hopkins – Kicker Dustin Hopkins, who had been nursing an undisclosed injury during training camp and the preseason, hit a 37-yard field goal in the second quarter to give the browns their first points of the night.
Tossed out – Linebacker Winston Reid was ejected in the second quarter for a personal foul hit on Seahawks receiver Easop Winston jr. Replays showed Reid led with his shoulder on avoided a helmet to helmet hit.
Dressed up – The regulars who started included Elijah Moore, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, Dawand Jones, and Jerome Ford on offense and Za’Darius Smith, Quinton Jefferson, Grant Delpit and Juan Thornhill on defense.
Final audition – Saturday was the last chance for bubble players to make their case for the 53 and 16-man practice squad. Teams have until 4 p.m. Tuesday to get down to 53. The Browns have a 3 p.m. practice scheduled so they should be done in advance.
Injury report – Players that suffered injuries Saturday night: RB D’Onta Foreman (ribs), CB Justin Hardee Sr. (head)
See you Sept. 8 – CB Greg Newsome II, WR Amari Cooper, WR Jerry Jeudy, QB Deshaun Watson, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, S Rodney McLeod, WR David Bell, RB Pierre Strong Jr., CB Denzel Ward, RB Nyheim Hines, CB Martin Emerson Jr., RB Nick Chubb, S Ronnie Hickman, S D’Anthony Bell, CB Tony Brown II, LB Nathaniel Watson, LB Tony Fields II, LS Charley Hughlett, C Luke Wypler, LB Jordan Hicks, T James Hudson III, G Michael Dunn, T Jedrick Wills Jr., G Joel Bitonio, T Jack Conklin, TE David Njoku, DT Maurice Hurst II, DE Alex Wright, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, and DE Myles Garrett all did not play.
